Network Slot Syncronization Scheme for a Computer Network Communication Channel

1. A method for efficiently utilizing bandwidth in a wireless network including a server and one client and another client, wherein data transmission across a data communications channel in the network is organized into frames including a plurality of time slots, wherein one time slot is assigned to the one client and another time slot is assigned to the another client, and wherein the one time slot precedes the another time slot within a frame, the method comprising: at the another client, monitoring the one time slot to determine whether the one client is transmitting data to the server in the one time slot of a current frame; waiting at the another client for a predetermined time interval that is a product of a clear channel assessment time and the number of time slots between the one time slot and the another time slot; and after the predetermined time interval, transmitting data from the another client to the server during the one time slot in the current frame responsive to a determination that the one client is not transmitting during the one slot in the current frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one time slot is a fixed time slot.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pre-assembling at least one data packet in advance at the another client such that the at least one data packet is available for transmission during the one time slot.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising triggering pre-assembly of the at least one data packet in response to an early transmission timer maintained by the another client.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying the clear channel assessment time with the server.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the clear channel assessment time is specified by the server at connection time of the another client.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frames of a plurality of time slots are transmitted on a transmission channel and the method further comprises selecting the channel from a plurality of channels with the server.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the channel comprises a spread spectrum channel defined by a frequency band and a pseudo-random code.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising searching for an available channel with the server for selection as the transmission channel.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the clear channel assessment time is specified by the server in a connection agreement with the another client.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server assigns the one time slot in a connection agreement with the one client.